"Yuque was built atop a slumbering calamity."
Long before the Xianzhou's voyage began, a primordial beast from the ancient world became part of Yuque's foundation.
On the 99th day of Jingtian's tenure as Seer, Yao Guang studied the most gifted astrologer in Yuque's history, puzzled by his words.
Jingtian's eyes held unfathomable depth, as though piercing through Yuque's origins—a burden inherent to the Seer's role. Yet this truth proved too cruel, even for him.
In forgotten ages, the Decaluminous Array had been forged over Yuque's abyss to seal the beast. All would have remained stable…
Had the Abundance's seed not taken root.
Now.
Yao Guang first sensed the anomaly—the weakening seal. With the Cloudgazer Mirror lost, the Array's power waned.
But Fu Xuan saw further.
A future none anticipated: The Abundance had already corrupted the beast, twisting it into its thrall. No wonder her vision had rebounded so violently. The calamity, near-Emissary in might, now defied all measure.
"It must be slain. Now." Fu Xuan's decision was instant. The beast's escape would doom Yuque.
Yao Guang's silence spoke volumes. His grip tightened on his blade. Only the Marshal—or the Divine Foresight—could achieve this.
But invoking the latter meant Yuque's destruction by divine arrow.
Fu Xuan recalled the abyssal depths where the beast lay—Yuque's bedrock itself. Destroying it without toppling the ship? Impossible.
Yao Guang's options: reinforce the seal, or petition the Marshal. He'd already written. The reply?
[The hour is not ripe. Await the Sword's Heart.]
The "Sword's Heart" meant An Ming. Yao Guang knew his genius, yet it fell short.
"The Marshal mentioned An Ming in his missive."
"Yuque confines him, yet waits for his 'Sword's Heart'?!" Fu Xuan's fist clenched. She longed to demand answers. How could the Alliance treat him thus?
Absurd, Yao Guang agreed. Yet the Marshal's decree shielded An Ming.
All knew who deserved Yuque's Sword Champion title. Politics barred it. Yao Guang had forced An Ming's candidacy—sole contender.
Challenge him? Win, and claim the title.
For decades, none dared.
Thirty years. That's all he'd needed to eclipse swordsmen thrice his age. A peak beyond peaks.
They questioned his origins, his mortality, his Abundance-tinged blood. Never his blade.
Beneath the courtyard peach tree, he remained—accessible, undeniable.
Yuque's de facto Sword Champion. Unnamed, yet unchallenged.
"Lady Seer, how long can the Array hold?"
"…Three centuries. At most."
A conservative estimate. Five, perhaps. But delay solved nothing. To Xianzhou natives, centuries were blinks. Yet Yuque's doom loomed.
Must another Ark fall?
"I don't compel him," Yao Guang said. But his gaze vowed he'd stand first when the hour came.
Fu Xuan left without retort. Her anger wasn't for him, but An Ming's injustice.
By noon, Fu Xuan returned to the courtyard. Spring warmth coaxed birds to flit over the walls.
Smoke curled from an outdoor stove—her idea years prior. An Ming had built it near his forge, the blast-scarred ground oddly suited for cooking.
"Back?"
"Mm."
Fu Xuan never hid her moods. She sulked to his side, claiming his free hand.
An Ming lowered a cleaned fish into broth. "About me again?"
"Yes."
"Pouting doesn't suit you, Xuan'er."
"Hmph!"
She glared, foot twitching as if to kick him—then stomped the grass instead.
After adding ginger and scallions, An Ming washed his hands and embraced her.
"An Ming."
"Hm?"
"Let's… let's get married."
Her face lifted, deadly earnest.
His arms stiffened, then tightened. "Shijie… you know I can't give you forever."
A mortal's lifespan against her eternity. One day, he'd be ashes beneath the peach tree, while she shone on as the Luofu's Seer.
Fu Xuan's lashes trembled. Time—the enemy no stratagem could outwit.